Kazakh teen completes internship at NASA
From July 15 to 28, Barsagazy participated in the United Space School program in Houston. The two-week program involved working on a team project to design a manned mission to Mars. She explained how she was selected for this prestigious internship.
"I wrote to the Foundation of International Space Education, learned about the program, and wrote an essay on technologies for Mars missions. A month later, I had an interview with the directors of the United Space School and was awarded the internship," Symbat said.
The family partially covered the expenses for accommodation and travel, while sponsors helped cover the remaining amount.
"I think after the internship, I realized I want to focus on one area in the future - bioengineering. During the project, I was responsible for ensuring astronauts had air and water, and protecting them from Martian radiation. I found this very interesting. I believe bioengineering will be an even more sought-after field in the future," continued the 16-year-old student from Almaty’s Physics and Mathematics School.
The girl has not yet decided which university she would like to attend but hopes to enter one of the prestigious universities in the USA.
"While I haven’t figured out my life’s mission yet, I am certain that I want to contribute to the development of engineering and aerospace sciences, especially in Kazakhstan - the home of the Baikonur Cosmodrome," she added.